PUZZLES & CAMO SHELLY HUHTANEN

When Help Arrives

Our mornings and evenings were filled with trivial rituals. I don't think I realized how eccentric we were until I started sharing our daily schedule with my parents.

John Lithgow once said "Time sneaks up on you like a windshield on a bug." It's uncanny how time can slip by, while you're diligently planning so time will not slip by. Mark's parents live in Montana, and we realized that as we were getting older in South Carolina, Mark's parents were getting older in Montana. Time has a tendency to do that. A few years ago, Mark flew to Montana and I stayed with the boys, but this time was different, "Shelly, I need you to come with me this time." Unfortunately, we do not have access to a respite service to stay with Broden for a few days, so Mark and I could see his parents.

The only option I could think of was to ask my parents for help, "Mom? Dad? Do you think you could fly to South Carolina for about 10 days, learn how to take care of Broden and drive him to therapy everyday, so we can visit Mark's parents?" I was prepared to hear a click and then a dial tone, but my mom chimed in and said that they would make it happen. We coordinated our flights so that my parents could have a few days to learn the ropes, and when we returned, they would have a few days to rest before their flight home. I don't think I realized how eccentric we were until I started sharing our daily schedule with my parents.

My parents decided that the "divide and conquer" approach would be the

most effective. My mom said she would make all of his meals and pack his lunch, and my dad would learn how to shower Broden and shuttle him back and forth to clinic. Together, they would plan his schedule, and post it in his room so he knew what he would be doing for his weekend outing.

REPORTING FOR DUTY: "My parents decided that the 'divide and conquer' approach would be the most effective. My mom said she would make all of Broden's meals and pack his lunch, and my dad would learn how to shower him and shuttle him back and forth to clinic."

The first morning my parents were with us for "Broden Training," my dad watched me make Broden's breakfast. As I was placing the food on his plate, I told him that we always use the same plate. The four pieces of bacon need to be stacked on top of each other. The bread

has to be toasted twice in the toaster, because Broden likes firm toast. He watched me as I cut the toast in half and stacked it perfectly on the other side of the plate so it didn't touch the bacon. Then I put about four blueberries on the other side of the plate. My dad asked, "This is how his breakfast plate looks every morning?" At first, I was confused with the question because it forced me to step out of our routine and look at it from someone who was seeing this breakfast ritual for the first time. "I guess this is sort of a unique ritual, isn't it? Yes, no food can touch and stack the bacon and toast